泰国(Thailand)
正式名称泰王国（Kingdom of Thailand）
旧称暹罗（Siam）
亚洲东南部王国。面积513,115平方公里。人口约61,251,000（2001）。首都︰曼谷。人口以泰人占多数，其次是中国人、高棉人和马来人。语言︰泰语（官方语）。宗教︰佛教（国教）。货币︰泰铢（B）。该国的地形包括了森林覆盖的丘陵和山脉，涵盖了昭披耶河三角洲的中部平原，及东北部的高原。市场经济大多以服务业、轻工业和农业为基础。以生产钨和锡为主。重要的农产品有稻米、玉蜀黍、橡胶、大豆和凤梨；制造业包括了服装、罐头食品、电路和水泥。旅游业亦重要。国家形式为君主立宪政体，两院制。国家元首是国王，政府首脑为总理。
泰国地区已连续被占据达两万年之久。从9世纪起，它是孟王国和高棉王国的一部分。10世纪前後，讲傣语的民族从中国移民过来。在13世纪时出现了两个傣族国家：一个是反抗高棉人成功後於1220年前後成立的速可台王国，另一个是打败孟人後於1296年成立的清迈。1351年阿瑜陀耶的傣王国继承了速可台。缅甸人是它最强的对手，在16世纪曾短期占领它，并在1767年破坏过它。1782年却克里王朝兴起，将首都迁到曼谷，沿着马来半岛扩展帝国，并进入了寮国和柬埔寨。1856年称国名为暹罗。虽然19世纪期间西方的影响增加，但暹罗的统治者们给欧洲国家特权以避免殖民地化；它是东南亚国家中唯一能如此做的。1917年参加第一次世界大战，站在同盟国一方。1932年军事政变後，它成为君主立宪的国家，1939年正式更名为泰国。第二次世界大战中被日本占领。由於是联合国部队的成员而参加了韩战。在越战中它与南越结盟。与其他的东南亚国家一样，泰国也经受了1990年代的区域金融危机。
English version：
Thailand
formerlySiamKingdom, S.East Asia. Area: 198,115 sq mi (513,115 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 60,602,000. Capital: Bangkok. The population is predominantly Thai, with significant Chinese, Khmer, and Malay minorities. Language: Thai (official). Religion: Buddhism (official). Currency: Thai baht. The country encompasses forested hills and mountains, a central plain containing the Chao Phraya River delta, and a plateau in the northeast. Its market economy is based largely on services, light industries, and agriculture. It is a large producer of tungsten and tin. Among its chief agricultural products are rice, corn, rubber, soybeans, and pineapples; manufactures include clothing, canned goods, electrical circuits, and cement. Tourism is also important. It is a constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses; its chief of state is the king, and the head of government is the prime minister. The region of Thailand has been continuously occupied for 20,000 years. It was part of the Mon and Khmer kingdoms from the 9th century AD. Thai-speaking peoples emigrated from China c. 10th century. During the 13th century two Thai states emerged: the Sukhothai kingdom, founded c. 1220 after a successful revolt against the Khmer, and Chiang Mai, founded in 1296 after defeating the Mon. In 1351 the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya succeeded Sukhothai. The Burmese were its most powerful rival, occupying it briefly in the 16th century and destroying it in 1767. The Chakri dynasty came to power in 1782, moving the capital to Bangkok and extending the empire along the Malay Peninsula and into Laos and Cambodia. It was named Siam in 1856. Though Western influence increased during the 19th century, Siam's rulers avoided colonization by granting concessions to European countries; it was the only S.East Asian nation able to do so. In 1917 it entered World War I on the side of the Allies. It became a constitutional monarchy following a military coup in 1932 and was officially renamed Thailand in 1939. It was occupied by Japan in World War II. It participated in the Korean War as a UN forces member. It was allied with South Vietnam in the Vietnam War. Along with other S.East Asian nations, it suffered from the 1990s regional financial crisis.
